MILKEN PRIZE HAILS SCHOOL LIBRARIAN.Byline: Michael Coit Daily News Staff Writer Teaching and books are Susan Dubin's twin passions, so much so that she makes the Valley Beth Shalom Valley Beth Shalom is a Conservative Synagogue in Encino, Los Angeles, California. With over 1,800 member families[1] it is one of the largest synagogues in Los Angeles and one of the largest Conservative synagogues in the United States. school library a hub of learning. Her efforts over the past 16 years were recognized Tuesday. Dubin is $10,000 richer after receiving one of this year's Jewish Educator Awards from the Milken Family Foundation Milken Family Foundation is a charity trust established by Lowell Milken and Michael Milken in 1982. External links
``It's like the Heisman Trophy Heisman Trophy Annual award given to the outstanding college gridiron football player in the U.S. The trophy was instituted in 1935 by New York City's Downtown Athletic Club and was officially named the following year for the club's first athletic director, the player-coach of teaching,'' the Northridge resident said. Dubin, 50, is considering using some of her prize to pay for a journey to England to learn more about her favorite subject, King Arthur King Arthur: see Arthurian legend. . She also wants to establish an endowment for library needs. The school's more than 300 students assembled for the surprise presentation, giving a rousing cheer when she received the check inside the Valley Beth Shalom synagogue. Her husband, Marc Dubin, kept the news secret for a week. She only realized the reason for the assembly - still not knowing whose name would be called - once seated inside the synagogue. The Milken foundation has given the financial awards annually since 1990 to five teachers selected from schools affiliated with the Bureau of Jewish Education Jewish education (Hebrew: חינוך, Chinuch) is the transmission of the tenets, principles and religious laws of Judaism. Due to its emphasis on Torah study, many have commented that Judaism is characterised by "lifelong learning" that extends to in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, . Lowell Milken, the foundation's president, said the award is intended to recognize greatness. Baseball greats get elected to the Hall of Fame, Olympic greats win gold medals, Milken said. ``But if you're a great teacher, what do you get? What we hope you get is thanks,'' he said. ``So we created an award program to honor and celebrate great teachers.'' Dubin's good works inside her classroom-size library have gone far beyond helping students find the right books. She leads reading programs tailored to preschoolers and older students. She teaches research techniques, including Internet access See how to access the Internet. . She even keeps the 21,000-volume collection current by reading books to decide what stays and what goes each year. ``It's like this job was made for me,'' said Dubin, a Northridge resident. ``It combines the two things I love best, books and teaching.'' Dubin's award also is notable because she is the first librarian to receive the award. ``That means a lot to me. It's something that needs to be recognized because even those librarians who do not teach like me are educators.'' Dubin began as an educator 20 years ago, operating her own private school for preschoolers and kindergartners until 1981. After teaching a year at Hillel Hebrew Academy in Beverly Hills Beverly Hills, city (1990 pop. 31,971), Los Angeles co., S Calif., completely surrounded by the city of Los Angeles; inc. 1914. The largely residential city is home to many motion-picture and television personalities. , she volunteered as a librarian assistant at Valley Beth Shalom. Two weeks later, she was hired to a paid position. The collection has grown from 3,000 to 21,000. The card catalog has been stored on computers. The computer lab now boasts 22 personal computers, with three connected to the Internet and more connections coming. ``It's been exciting. You always have to learn something new,'' she said. The four other award winners are Deborah Norwood of Stephen S. Wise school, Rabbi Laurence Scheindlin of Sinai Akiba, and Shira Smiles of HULA, a girl's camp, all in Los Angeles; and Jan Cohen cohen or kohen (Hebrew: “priest”) Jewish priest descended from Zadok (a descendant of Aaron), priest at the First Temple of Jerusalem. The biblical priesthood was hereditary and male. of Hillel Hebrew Academy. CAPTION(S): photo PHOTO Students hold up cards spelling out the Jewish Educator Awards prize money for Susan Dubin, librarian at Valley Beth Shalom school. John Lazar/Daily News |
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